OSHA Issues Safety Alert for Restaurants Providing Curbside Pickup and Take-Out Service

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an alert with safety tips for restaurants and food and beverage businesses to protect their workers from coronavirus exposure while they provide curbside pickup and take-out service. OSHA recommends these businesses implement the following:

• Reserve parking spaces near the front door for curbside pickup only
• Avoid direct hand-off, when possible
• Display a door or sidewalk sign with the services available (e.g., take-out, curbside), instructions for pickup, and hours of operation
• Practice sensible social distancing by maintaining 6 feet between co-workers and customers. Mark 6-foot distances with floor tape in pickup lines
• Encourage customers to pay ahead of time by phone or online
• Temporarily move workstations to create more distance and install plexiglass partitions, if feasible
• Allow workers to wear masks over their nose and mouth to prevent them from spreading the virus
• Provide a place to wash hands and alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60 percent alcohol
• Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns

Phelps’ lawyers will host a webinar on May 8 to address restaurant owner compliance with COVID-19 related federal guidelines once restaurants are able to reopen for in-house dining.

Please contact Phelps’ Labor and Employment team if you have any questions or need compliance advice and guidance. For more information related to COVID-19, please also see Phelps’ COVID-19: Client Resource Portal.